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S. African Mission to Iraq Not in Breach of UN Sanctions
The South African mission to Iraq to deliver humanitarian aid is not in breach of the United Nations (UN) sanctions, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dumisani Rasheleng said on Friday.
The spokesman said Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad will head a South African delegation to Iraq next week to deliver six tons of medical and food supplies to the country.
The UN imposed the sanctions against Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the refusal of its government to comply with the UN arms inspections.
Iraq has been barred from selling oil on the open market since sanctions were imposed. The UN launched an oil-for-food program in 1996 to provide food, medicine and other goods for Iraqis suffering under the sweeping embargo.
Baghdad has criticized the program as a tool for the United States and Britain to justify maintaining sanctions, which can not be lifted until the Security Council is satisfied that Iraq has rid itself of its weapons of mass destruction.
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